Servant-Leadership In The Air Force

There are a number of significant difficulties for today’s military - the Global War on Terrorism or what has recently been termed the “Long War;” weapon system acquisitions and personnel draw downs. The focus of this paper is on one strategic component of the military quest—Leadership. More specifically, it will center on servant leadership and its impact on the military’s vision.

Over the course of my career, I have tried to model various leadership behaviors based upon successful leaders that I have worked with or for. This has led me to incorporate different styles into my own. Considering my current leadership strengths and how I view successful leaders I will use a servant leadership theory to analyze my own competencies. Servant leaders have 9 different aspects comprised of: emotional healing, creating value for the community, conceptual skills, empowering, helping subordinates grow and succeed, putting subordinates first, behaving ethically, relationships, and servanthood (Boone & Makhani, 2005, pg. 86). The aspects of a servant leader are those that I personally value and identify with. In addition to this, it is my belief that servant leaders, because they are people oriented, are more effective in a variety of environments and situations.

Servant leadership is defined by a willingness of a leader to put the needs, desires, recognition and success of their employees and organization above their own interests. They often inspire followership through their example resulting in deeply loyal subordinates that are motivated to emulate the leader’s behavior not out of fear or a desire to please and impress but because of its intrinsic value. Reading through the results of my Seven Habits Profile I noticed that I was comparatively deficient on a few of the foundational and organizational habits such as putting first things first and beginning with the end in mind. Conversely, I had a much higher level of empathetic traits with synergy, seeking first to understand, and thinking win-win taking the top three spots. These traits are highly consistent with servant leadership.

Servant Leadership is “an approach to leadership with strong altruistic and ethical overtones that asks and requires leader to be attentive to the needs of their followers and empathize with them; they should take care of them by making sure they become healthier, wiser, freer and more autonomous, so that they too can become servant leaders” (Valeri, 2007). Although there is not many servant leaders in this world but the concept of servant is one of the most leadership approach leaders today struggles with. Servant leadership is mainly about the leader helping to grow their followers or members personally and professionally through empathy, listening skills and compassion. The concept of servant leadership which was proposed by Robert K. Greenleaf in his 1970 writing indicated that servant leadership is a theoretical framework that advocated a leader’s primary motivation and role as service to others.

The concept of servant leadership was first defined by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970, and the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership was later established. The former CEO of that organization, Larry C. Spears, published an article outlining ten characteristics of servant leaders. These ten characteristics have been referenced countless times in recent years, and they serve as the pillar of the study of this leadership style. Using those characteristics as a reference, I will discuss my own strengths and weaknesses as a servant leader in this section.

For many generations the concept of servant leader has been used in religious arenas as a positive influence. Since the early 1970’s the actual term was coined as the concept has been applied to the general business world. The characteristic of a leader to show servant type tendencies has been universally held as positive attribute for anyone in a leadership role. But how is a servant leader measured? Are their acid or litmus type tests based on fulfillment of key characteristics that distinguish a leader as a servant leader? In this paper the concept of servant leadership, identification of servant leaders, developing servant leaders, and the impact servant leaders have in organizations will be reviewed. Perspectives will include those

Robert K. Greenleaf first coined the term “servant leadership” in his 1970 essay The Servant as Leader, later published in 1991. The leader who follows the model of service has a natural and conscious drive to serve others before leading them. This is in contrast to those who seek to lead first to increase power or personal wealth. While many have analyzed Greenleaf’s work over the years and identified qualities of a servant leader, there are ten qualities that represent a concise and accurate list of behaviors and personality traits needed by any servant leader to be successful. These qualities are listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment

The department, when servant leadership is implemented, has great possibility and visionary accomplished goals. Servant leadership in this department may decrease the voluntary turnover rate tremendously. The organization workload is demanding comparing to others organization with equal pay. As turnover is costing organization 150% more when placed in these situation, the cost of replacing an employee is damaging. A study on servant leadership on turnover intention indicated that servant leader led to the decrease in turnover that involves ethical level, person-organization fit, and organization commitment (Jaramillo, Grisaffe, Chonko, & Roberts, 2009). When servant leader demonstrate genuine compassion to the people they lead, the

“Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders be attentive to the concerns of their followers, empathize with them, and nurture

Servant leadership can be a difficult leadership approach to utilize in every organization. Being able to conceptualize is undoubtedly an important cognitive capacity in all kinds of leadership, but why is it a defining characteristic of servant leadership? A clear explanation for its central role and servant leadership needs to be addressed and defined in further research. (Northouse p.241) The focus of servant leadership is on others and meeting the needs of others. Self-interest should not motivate servant leadership; rather, it should ascend to a higher plane of motivation. (Stone p.352) Successful servant leaders must be able to provide and share the organization’s vision while also supporting and build the trust of others.

In the process of becoming a leader, I have had the opportunity to learn a variety of leadership styles. “The Servant Leadership caught my eye as it begins with “the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first”. In chapter ten, I was able to identify the characteristics of Jesus as the first servant Leader; I quickly connected the passage to a bible verse Matthew 20:26 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. “I make a strong connection with Greenleaf’s phrase that the “servant-leader is servant first.” Jesus is the perfect role model of servant leadership. Throughout my life, I have encountered numerous leadership styles and for that, I am thankful that I had the opportunity to learn from them.

This week I found it very interesting and enlightening to learn how servant leadership principles have been around since biblical times and how they remain timeless even today. I learned more about the leadership traits of those from biblical times during my research for this week's discussion post. While the majority of the concepts of servant leadership made perfect sense to me before in regards to how they were present in that era, this week it has become even more evident that mankind were really meant to serve each other. Through completing this weeks assignment, I have taken a look back at the various leaders that I have had the pleasure of working with, they all held servant leadership qualities.

What type of servant leader behaviors did Herb Kelleher exhibit in starting the airline? What about Colleen Barrett?

Servant leadership underscores service. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first (Greenleaf 2002, p.4). Servant leaders are not only team builders, motivators, but they are ready and willing to take matters in their hands. Besides, they act on their visions and their actions inspire people to become involve. A leader can ascend from anywhere in this world. Moreover, as our leaders rise we are able to examine their attributes, actions, and identify the servant leaders. The ten characteristics that are associated, with servant leadership are; listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. This paper will explore and analyze the actions, qualities of a young female head, as it relates to the ten characteristics of a servant leader.

Just like other leadership theories, servant leadership has also attracted both negative and positive attention from theorists and business people alike. Let’s examine some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with servant leadership.